I'm sure most of you already know this . . . [View All]

[Floogeldy]

Another poster (sorry, I didn't save the name) shared his or her maintenance information, which I copied for future reference. It is basic stuff, but maybe it will be helpful to some of you someday:

"Get these programs on the internet:

Spybot Search & Destroy

AdAware

Spyware Blaster

KMCS Deluxe System Suite

RegSupreme

Diskeeper Lite(If you don't have a good defragger. The M$ one sux)

SafeXP

PageDefrag.

Here is the plan, by the numbers:

Install SpywareBlaster. Run, update, select all protection. Quit.

Install AdAware. Update, Run. Clean out any Spyware it finds.

Install Spybot S&D. Set it to run "TeaTimeR" on startup. This stops bad software from installing itself without your permission. Run SBS&D. Update. Immunize. Scan. Delete any other Spyware it finds.

Put SafeXP and PageDefrag, after de-archiving them, in a folder you create in your top C: drive level. Run SafeXP and set to "recommended settings. Also set it to "Delete Page File" on each reboot. Save settings. Quit.

Run PageDefrag. Set it to defrag system files on each startup, after 3 seconds. Quit.

Install KMCS and RegSupreme. Run Cleanup wizard on KMCS. Set it to clean out everything. Start KMCS. Run Disk Cleaner mode. Generate scripts. Run the cleaner. Wait for it to finish. Quit to KMCS control panel.

Run RegSupreme. Generate cache, then run "Deep Scan". Select "All" from menus. Select "Fix". Save backup(a precaution). Let it clean out the registry. Quit.

Run KMCS "Registry Compressor". Compress Registry. Quit.

Reboot.

Let PageDefrag run as long as it needs to. Do not freak out if it takes a while, because you have really fragmented system files.
Defrag your drive when the system finishes booting.

You will not believe the speed you will pick up. Better than a fresh install.

Most are free programs. Others are generous trial programs.

I do this all the time. It works and will not blow up your computer."